National day of service and remembrance

We stand united on this National Day of Service and Remembrance to take a moment and remember the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center.

A view of the new 9/11 Memorial Museum. Sept. 11 is now considered a day of giving service across the country. (Source: Carolyn Cole/Los Angeles Times/MCT)

In the days following the terrorist attacks of 2001, thousands of people were moved to volunteer and organize support networks. Today, you can cultivate that same spirit of giving through volunteer-related activities.

You may wonder if one day can really make a difference. That day certainly made a difference for the worse, so now it’s time to change the future of 9/11 for the better.

From simple acts of kindness, to larger scales of charitable engagement, any number of good deeds can be performed to participate in the day of service.

Utah has been ranked the top state for volunteering for eight years in a row, according to The Corporation for National and Community Service.

The numbers prove that Utahns care about their community, which makes us the perfect state to show what unity and involvement really mean.

If you’re new to the volunteering scene, it can be easy to start. Consider your hobbies, passions or interests. You could start simple by sharing a passion you have with someone else or teaching someone a new skill.

If you’re a veteran to volunteering, consider branching out of your comfort zone. This could also be a particularly appropriate time to check out volunteer opportunities serving the military, such as the George E. Wahlen Veterans Home, the Wounded Warrior Project or Operation Homefront.

In 2002, the 9/11day.org website was created as a way to annually honor both heroes and victims of Sept. 11. According to the website, last year’s day of service involved 47 million people throughout the U.S. and in 150 different countries. This year is expected to draw more than 40 million participants, which would make Sept. 11 the nation’s largest annual day of charity.

Visit their website to find volunteer options in your area, download toolkits or to buy a t-shirt in support of their efforts.

You can also share your day of service with everybody by using #911Day on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

I invite all Wildcats to use this single day to get involved, pay it forward and serve.